Canada’s construction put-in-place value reached $152.3 billion in 2023, and housing starts rose to 247,800 units, up 3.3% from the prior year. Multi-family momentum remains the standout, with starts hitting 159,200 units and driven by condo construction. The sections below map how volumes, permits, and job demand are shifting across Canada even as labour and material costs affect build schedules.
Key Takeaways
- Total construction put-in-place value was $152.3 billion in 2023
- The construction industry contributed $122.4 billion to Canada's GDP in 2022, or 6.9% of total GDP
- In 2023, the Canadian construction sector employed 1,482,300 workers, representing 7.4% of total national employment
- There were 68 lost-time injuries per 100 full-time workers in construction in 2022
- Construction expected to add 319,000 jobs by 2032, net gain after retirements
Canadian construction starts surged, showing strong momentum for builders and a healthier pipeline of projects.
Related reading
01 · Category
Construction Volumes and Projects25 stats
01
Total construction put-in-place value was $152.3 billion in 2023
02
Residential building permits issued totaled $112.4 billion in 2023, up 8.7% yoy
03
Single-family housing starts reached 88,600 units in 2023, down 1% from 2022
04
Multi-family starts hit 159,200 units in 2023, record high driven by condos
05
Total housing starts were 247,800 units in 2023, 3.3% above 2022
06
Non-residential permits valued at $45.2 billion in 2023, up 6.4%
07
Engineering construction put-in-place was $48.7 billion in 2023, including roads and utilities
08
Ontario issued residential permits worth $48.9 billion in 2023, 43% national share
09
Completions of apartment buildings totaled 25,400 units in 2023
10
Highway and street construction investment was $14.2 billion in 2023
11
Toronto CMA saw 62,300 housing starts in 2023, highest in Canada
12
Vancouver apartment starts were 28,900 units in 2023
13
Calgary single-detached starts numbered 10,200 in 2023, up 15%
14
Montreal total starts reached 32,100 units in 2023
15
Institutional construction permits $12.8 billion nationally in 2023
16
Oil and gas pipeline construction value $8.4 billion in 2023
17
Renovation spending estimated at $78 billion in 2023, 51% of total residential
18
Edmonton saw 14,500 total housing starts in 2023
19
Quebec residential investment $32.4 billion in 2023 put-in-place
20
BC non-residential construction $18.9 billion in 2023
21
Retail trade building permits $4.2 billion in 2023, down 5%
22
Water supply and sewage projects $6.7 billion invested 2023
23
Ottawa-Gatineau starts 12,400 units in 2023
24
Winnipeg housing starts 8,900 units 2023
25
Power and communication projects $10.3 billion in 2023
Interpretation
Construction Volumes and Projects Interpretation
Even as Canadians famously stack condos like Lego bricks to reach record multi-family highs, the true foundation of the industry reveals itself as a sprawling, $152.3 billion juggling act—simultaneously patching potholes, upgrading sewers, renovating our existing homes, and desperately trying to build enough new walls to live within.
02 · Category
Economic and Financial Metrics26 stats
01
The construction industry contributed $122.4 billion to Canada's GDP in 2022, or 6.9% of total GDP
02
Construction investment reached $145.7 billion in 2023, up 4.2% from 2022 nominal terms
03
Residential construction accounted for 52.3% of total sector GDP in 2022
04
Non-residential construction GDP was $58.2 billion in 2022, growing 3.1% real terms
05
Engineering construction subsector contributed $32.1 billion to GDP in 2022
06
Sector revenues totaled $408 billion in 2022 for reporting firms
07
Construction firms numbered 127,800 in 2022, with average revenue per firm of $3.2 million
08
Profit margins in construction averaged 4.7% in 2022, down from 5.2% in 2021 due to material costs
09
Ontario construction GDP was $48.3 billion in 2022, 39% of national total
10
Material costs rose 12.4% in construction in 2022, impacting 28% of project budgets
11
Sector exports of construction services were $4.2 billion in 2022
12
Government spending on construction was $42.6 billion in 2023, 29% of total investment
13
Private investment in non-residential construction hit $68.4 billion in 2022
14
Construction productivity grew 1.2% in 2022, lagging overall economy at 1.8%
15
Quebec construction GDP stood at $24.1 billion in 2022, 19.7% of national
16
Bankruptcy filings among construction firms rose 15% to 1,240 in 2023
17
Average project value for large firms was $15.6 million in 2022
18
BC construction GDP contribution was 6.8% or $17.2 billion in 2022
19
Wage share of construction value added was 42.3% in 2022
20
Institutional building construction investment was $12.4 billion in 2023
21
Sector capital expenditures totaled $8.7 billion in 2022
22
Alberta construction GDP fell 2.1% to $14.9 billion in 2022 amid energy transition
23
Multi-unit residential starts drove 35% of housing investment growth in 2023
24
Construction R&D spending was $1.2 billion in 2022, 0.3% of revenues
25
Commercial building investment declined 1.8% to $18.2 billion in 2023
26
Industrial construction boomed with $22.1 billion invested in 2023, up 12%
Interpretation
Economic and Financial Metrics Interpretation
While wrestling with soaring material costs and razor-thin margins, Canada's construction industry still managed to build nearly 7% of the nation's GDP, proving that even when the foundation is shaking, the show—and the heavy lifting—must go on.
03 · Category
Employment and Workforce30 stats
01
In 2023, the Canadian construction sector employed 1,482,300 workers, representing 7.4% of total national employment
02
As of Q4 2023, construction employment grew by 2.1% year-over-year, adding 30,400 jobs primarily in Ontario and British Columbia
03
Women accounted for 13.2% of the construction workforce in 2022, up from 11.8% in 2018, with highest representation in administrative roles
04
In 2022, 24.5% of construction workers were aged 55 or older, highlighting an aging workforce issue
05
Apprentices numbered 84,200 in construction trades in 2023, comprising 12.3% of the skilled trades workforce
06
Indigenous workers made up 4.8% of the construction labor force in 2021, with higher concentrations in Western provinces
07
Construction unemployment rate stood at 5.6% in 2023, lower than the national average of 5.8%
08
In 2022, 156,400 construction workers were self-employed, accounting for 11.2% of the sector's total employment
09
Quebec's construction sector had 244,100 employees in 2023, the highest provincial figure at 8.9% of provincial employment
10
New entrants to construction trades totaled 45,600 in 2022, but 28,900 retirees left, creating a net labor gap
11
68.4% of construction workers held a trade certificate or diploma in 2021
12
Visible minorities represented 22.1% of construction employees in major cities in 2021 census data
13
Average hourly wage in construction was $32.45in 2023, 15% above the national average
14
Part-time construction workers numbered 92,700 in 2022, or 6.5% of total employment
15
Immigrants comprised 27.3% of the construction workforce in 2021, with recent immigrants at 8.2%
16
In 2023, Ontario construction employment reached 577,200, up 3.2% from 2022
17
Youth aged 15-24 made up 9.1% of construction workers in 2022
18
Unionized workers in construction were 42.6% of the workforce in 2022, highest among industries
19
BC construction jobs grew by 4.5% to 227,800 in 2023, driven by residential building
20
Persons with disabilities represented 5.2% of construction employees in 2022
21
Alberta's construction workforce was 193,400 in 2023, down 1.8% due to oil slowdown
22
76.2% of construction managers had postsecondary education in 2021
23
Manitoba construction employment hit 48,900 in 2023, up 2.9%
24
Construction laborers numbered 312,500 in 2022, the largest occupational group
25
Saskatchewan had 52,300 construction workers in 2023, 9.1% of provincial employment
26
Atlantic provinces combined for 112,400 construction jobs in 2023
27
Carpenters employed 142,800 across Canada in 2022
28
Electricians in construction totaled 98,700 in 2023
29
Plumbers and pipefitters numbered 72,400 in 2022
30
Heavy equipment operators were 56,200 strong in construction in 2023
Interpretation
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
While the Canadian construction industry is literally building the nation, it’s also trying to build its own future—navigating an aging workforce, a persistent gender imbalance, and a fragile labor pipeline, all while trying to hold up the roof with a workforce that's more diverse, older, and better paid than you might have guessed.
More related reading
04 · Category
Safety and Regulations27 stats
01
There were 68 lost-time injuries per 100 full-time workers in construction in 2022
02
Fatalities in construction totaled 128 in 2022, 24% of all workplace deaths
03
Fall from heights caused 32% of construction fatalities in 2021-2023 average
04
42% of construction workers reported safety training in past year in 2023 survey
05
Musculoskeletal injuries accounted for 38% of lost-time claims in construction 2022
06
Compliance rate with OHS regulations was 87% in federal construction sites 2023
07
Ontario construction injury rate 2.8 per 100 workers in 2022
08
Quebec CNESST reported 12,400 construction accidents in 2022
09
Silica exposure regulations updated in 2023 affecting 15% of sites
10
Mental health claims rose 22% in construction 2019-2022
11
BC WorkSafeBC fined 156 construction firms $4.2M for violations in 2023
12
Crane incidents totaled 47 in 2022, 12 serious
13
PPE usage was 94% compliant on large projects 2023 audit
14
Alberta OHS violations 2,340 in construction 2022
15
Heat-related incidents up 18% in summer 2023 construction sites
16
Scaffolding failures caused 9 fatalities 2020-2023
17
Manitoba construction injury frequency 1.9 per 100 in 2022
18
Trenching collapses 14 incidents yearly average
19
COVID-19 cases in construction 45,200 cumulative to 2023
20
Electrical hazards led to 11% of injuries in 2022
21
National average workers' comp premiums $2.45per $100 payroll in construction 2023
22
Fatigue-related incidents 22% on night shifts construction 2023 study
23
Asbestos abatement projects numbered 4,200 in 2022
24
Saskatchewan construction safety inspections 18,500 in 2023
25
Vehicle incidents 28% of construction injuries 2022
26
Atlantic provinces average injury rate 2.1 per 100 workers 2022
27
Lead exposure regulations tightened for 2,100 sites in 2023
Interpretation
Safety and Regulations Interpretation
These statistics paint a grim and galling portrait of an industry where, despite the high-visibility vests, the most glaringly obvious safety priority often seems to be a comfortable 87% compliance rate while workers are quite literally falling through the cracks.
05 · Category
Trends and Future Projections25 stats
01
Construction expected to add 319,000 jobs by 2032, net gain after retirements
02
Housing starts projected at 235,000-250,000 units annually 2024-2026
03
Non-residential investment to grow 3.5% annually to 2028, reaching $95B
04
Labor shortage to peak at 60,000 workers in 2026, easing to 29,000 by 2032
05
Prefab/modular construction share to rise from 5% to 12% by 2030
06
Digital tech adoption in projects to reach 65% by 2027
07
Green building certifications expected to double to 25% of projects by 2030
08
Infrastructure spending forecast $180B annually 2024-2034 via Investing in Canada Plan
09
Residential renovations to average $85B yearly 2024-2028
10
BIM usage projected to 80% of large projects by 2026
11
Net-zero ready buildings to comprise 40% new construction by 2030
12
Construction GDP growth 2.8% annually 2024-2028 forecast
13
Immigration to fill 45% of new construction jobs 2023-2032
14
Electrification projects to surge 15% yearly to 2030
15
Ontario housing supply target 1.5M units by 2031
16
Automation/robotics in construction to 20% task coverage by 2030
17
Quebec infrastructure deficit $80B, planned $35B spend 2024-2034
18
BC construction growth 4.1% annual to 2028
19
Supply chain digitization to cut delays 25% by 2027
20
Affordable housing builds 100,000 units targeted 2023-2028 federally
21
AI predictive maintenance to save $2B annually by 2030
22
Alberta energy transition projects $50B pipeline to 2030
23
Modular housing to meet 30% of Indigenous housing needs by 2030
24
National productivity gap to narrow 1.5% annual with tech by 2030
25
Transit infrastructure $100B committed 2024-2034
Interpretation
Trends and Future Projections Interpretation
Canada's construction industry is scripting a high-stakes, multi-talent production where we're desperately trying to build more with less, racing to train and import workers while retrofitting everything from our tools to our buildings, all to avoid the tragicomedy of a nation that can plan a subway station with AI but can't find a carpenter to assemble it.
Reference
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APA
Min-ji Park. (2026, February 13). Canadian Construction Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/canadian-construction-industry-statistics
MLA
Min-ji Park. "Canadian Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/canadian-construction-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Min-ji Park. 2026. "Canadian Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/canadian-construction-industry-statistics.
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